What day of the week does your cruises start?
Our Greek cabin charters start on Wednesdays at 11 am in Paroikia's yacht harbour in Paros. Disembarkation takes place in Paros the following Tuesdays at 5 pm.
How many people shall we be on the boat?
Our cabin charter sailing cruises are limited to 8 people + the skipper.
Do you try and match similar people on trips or is it just as it comes?
A lot of the matching happens on its own: ie, families with kids vacation during July & August while singles &/or couples show up early or late season. The cruise profile highlights swimming, sailing, hiking/walking while life on board is based on group dynamics, it is thus certainly not targeted at inactive guests.
Will the skipper be ok to teach us sailing skills?
Our cabin charters aren’t meant for sailing instruction but of course you are most welcome to help as much as you want as it is part of the fun! Feel free to ask why the skipper is doing something, or what the sailing terminology means. If you happen to be at the helm and the skipper says it is time to tack or change course, it could be because there's a nasty little rock or reef in the way and you probably really should follow that advice.
What would be a typical day onboard the catamaran?
The day starts with breakfast and fresh food provisioning if needed. You may also enjoy a swim or a stroll by the sea. Once the boat cleared and ready for sail, the anchor will be weighed and course shaped for the next island. We sail 2 to 4 hours stopping where possible for a swim (we carry snorkeling gear) and for lunch, or otherwise keep sailing and have lunch on the move. We arrive at our daily destination usually around 3 pm, leaving plenty of time for relaxing or exploring the island. Of course you may decide to lay back and relax on the boat or just stroll to the nearby beach. In the evening we typically have dinner ashore where you will enjoy traditional Greek food. Of course you may also have dinner on your side without the other participants. After dinner you are free to enjoy the evening as you wish.
Is there A/C?
Yes the catamaran is fully equiped with A/C.
How do you send out travel documentation?
All documentation is sent by email. Shortly after we receive your first payment we will send you a booking confirmation. Final boarding information will be sent by email after you have settled the remaining due of your cabin charter. We will send you a reminder one month prior departure.
How do I get to Paros?
A. If you're landing in Athens, there are two options:
Option 1. Catch a flight for Paros with Aegean Airlines. Flight duration: 30 minutes. One way fare: around 90 euros.
Option 2. Catch a ferry from either Piraeus harbour (45 minutes by cab or 1 hour and 15 minutes by shuttle bus X96 from the airport) or Rafina harbour (35 minutes by cab from the airport).
Trip duration: between 2 hours and 45 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the ferry. One way fare: between 25 euros and 40 euros, depending on the company. Ferry schedules on www.danae.gr
B. If you’re landing in Mykonos
Catch a ferry from Mykonos. Trip duration: 40’. One way fare: between 25 euros and 40 euros, depending on the company. Ferry schedules on www.danae.gr
Should we book our ferry tickets in advance?
If you are traveling in Greece between June and September, best is to book your ferry tickets in advance as ferries can be crowded at that time of the year. You may book e-ticket then with the booking number retrieve the actual ticket from the booth (in Piraeus harbour just across the street from the subway station) or order your ticket to be delivered by courrier services.
For ferry tickets schedules and bookings we like very much this website.
What is the cost of round trip ferry service from Athens to Paros?
A round trip ferry service Athens-Paros will cost you around 65 EUR. The Blue Star is a very reliable ferry, it sails all year round, departures from Piraeus port (Athens) twice a day at 7:30 am and at 5:30 pm. Trip duration: approx. 3 hours and a half. The Highspeed ferry is also a good option, it leaves daily from Piraeus port at 07:25, arriving in Paros at 10:30.
Flying to Paros (Aegean Airlines, one way fare: around 90 EUR) is interesting only if you do not wish to visit Athens and prefer to head withour delay for the islands.
How is dinner ashore handled? Do we all go to the same place, is the dinner menu fixed?
Dinners are taken ashore in a Greek taverna on the beach or in a village. Of course you may have dinner on your side if you wish to, in that case you will be refunded of 14 euros per person from the cruising kitty. When we have dinner all together, the captain advises you of what are the best local specialties and you may order a selection of these for sampling. Usual fare costs around 14 euros per person per dinner, local wine or beer included.
Can you explain the kitty?
When sharing a yacht all common costs aboard (harbour fees, fuel, food & drinks onboard and dinners ashore) are shared equally among all crew members. All in all, a sailor's share of the cruising kitty usually amounts to 250 euros for the week. We quizz our guests and our skippers regularly in order to keep this figure correct, as we feel you ought to know in advance your vacation's costs. Of course we make no profit on the kitty.
How is the provisioning carried out?
After meeting the other guests and being briefed by the captain, everyone will write down all his/her breakfast and lunch preferences and a detail will go and shop accordingly at the supermarket in front of the pier.
What cooking facilities do we have aboard?
In the well appointed galley of the Lagoon 420 catamaran you will find all necessary to prepare a nice meal: dishes, utensils, kitchen towels, fridge, gas oven and hobs. Coffee lovers will find available both an Italian traditional espresso coffee machine and for filter coffee a thermos jug fitted with a cone.
Is the itinerary up to the captain or do we have a say?
Numerous routeing options are available when departing from Paros island. There are many must-to-see islands such as Mykonos, Sifnos, Amorgos, Delos, Ios etc and many choices of alternative itineraries too! On boarding day, your captain will sit and discuss with you, with the week’s weather forecast in hand, customizing precisely your route, by keeping in mind your preferences but also your comfort while sailing.
Here are our most popular itineraries, specificaly designed to combine exciting sailing with interesting island visits.
Paros, Sifnos, Despotiko, Koufonissi, Amorgos, Schinoussa, Antiparos, Paros
Paros, Sikinos, Santorini, Folegandros, Kimolos, Sifnos, Despotiko, Paros
Paros, Syros, Mykonos et Delos, Donoussa, Amorgos, Schinoussa, Antiparos, Paros
Do we go into marinas at night?
In July and August, when harbors get very busy in the Greek islands, yachts generally anchor out in the evenings, unless they need to refill their fuel or water tanks or if they claim a slip before 15:00. Outside this period it is usually not a problem to go into marina at night. Each of our yachts carry a tender or dinghy with an outboard motor, sort of the taxi for getting around. If you wish to dock at a port for the day or evening, the dockage fees are not covered by the charter fee and are at the charterer's expense.
Do you carry snorkeling gear onboard?
Yes we do carry flippers of various sizes onboard. Should you do not find anything able to find the right match, you may easily purchase fins and snorkel masks in Parikia’s harbour at a reasonable price.
Is bed linen provided?
Yes we provide with all bed linen (sheets, pillow cases, blankets) as well as bathroom towels. You just need to bring with your own beach/deck towel.
Is there a coffee machine on the boat?
Yes, both an Italian traditional espresso coffee machine and a filter coffee thermos jug fitted with a cone are available on the Lagoon 420.
Are there any electric plugs on the boat?
Yes, the Lagoon 420 is equipped with an inverter, meaning that we have 2 AC plugs for recharging mobile phones, cameras or Ipods and operating small household appliances like a fruitblender, they are standard continental european plugs (France, Germany, Italy etc). The yacht also has DC cigarette lighter plugs like in a car.
